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Gir National Park

Asiatic Lions In Gir National Park

The Home of Asiatic Lions

Situated in the state of Gujarat in Western India, Gir National Park is the only home for pure Asiatic Lions. Covering an area of nearly 1412 km2, Gir Wildlife sanctuary was established in the year 1965. For the number of species that are found in this restricted area has made it one of the most important wildlife areas in Asia. This wildlife sanctuary too has seen heavy swing in population of species, especially its famed possession, the Asiatic lions. Till the start of 20th century, lions were hunted down in huge numbers for game and competitions. Due to this, the population of Asiatic lions dwindled to around 15. It was then, huge measure were taken by the then Nawab of princely state of Junagadh. He declared the core area and the surrounding areas as 'protected'. Since then, government and many wildlife activists have taken special interest in keeping a vigilance over this sanctuary.

World of Wild In Gir

The count of wildlife species found in Gir National Park will baffle you. There are nearly 2,375 varieties of species in this national park. However you will not be able to notice most of them because 2000 of them are insects of different varieties. There are 38 species of mammals that include Asiatic lions, leopards, civet cats, Sambar, wild boar, Blackbucks and many more. and many more. It also includes 37 species of reptiles.

Gir is also a splendid place for bird watching as it has more than 300 species of birds here. Most of them are residents, so a decline in the rainfall also hardly affects the population. However less rainfall, which has been the trend for some years, do take away many beautiful migratory birds. Black headed oriole, Indian pitta, Great horned owl and crested hawk eagle are few of the birds that are found here.

Gir National Park is as rich in floral varieties as it is in fauna species. Nearly 500 species of plants have been found in its restricted zone. Teak variety occurs in plenty with a good number of deciduous species.

King of Jungles - The Asiatic Lions

Asiatic lions were earlier found in many parts of Asia but recent wildlife census shows that Gir National Park is the only remaining habitat of Asiatic Lions. This makes Gir all the more important in context of global wildlife. Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than their African counterparts. A fully grown male can weigh upto 200 kg and attain a height of 8-9 feet. Their coat is also thinner but longer than African lions. Sighting a pride in the heat of afternoon sun can be a really heartwarming experience. One can find a family of father, mother and their cubs huddling together in the shade of a tree. They generally move around in groups, rest during the day and hunt in packs as the sun starts to set.

Tourist Information For Gir National park

Gir National Park is situated around 65 km from the city of Junargadh. From the capital city of Ahmedabad, it is around 400 km. There are regular bus service from all the major cities of Gujarat to this wildlife sanctuary. The best time to visit Gir National Park is from December to March. During cooler weather it is easy to spot animals out in the open. For accommodation, there are lot of resorts inside the park as well as outside the park.

Jeep safari is the best way to see and enjoy wildlife to the hilt. There are two sessions of safari in a day. Safari Timings for Gir National Park are 6.30 Am to 9.30 Am and 3 Pm to 5 Pm.